SSN is a digest of the day's soccer/football/futbol articles with a focus on the top European leagues and the United States National Team. Below, you’ll find links to articles and video, as well as additional features and commentary. We locate the top news of the day so you can stay updated with ease.

Friday, November 17, 2006

A tough one here but I like City to do the business.Fulham have done far better this term on their travels than last, but it’s high time Psycho’s men got their act together.Barton has been hitting the woodwork and the luck has left his side but this result will give them some hope.

2-1

Portsmouth vs. Watford

I’m thinking a draw here.Watford have been unlucky in that their tenacity and discipline have not translated into the points they could have attained.Portsmouth are tough at home but Fulham scratched out a point on the south coast last weekend and I bank on Watford to do the same.

1-1

Arsenal vs. Newcastle

Newcastle’s house is not in order and things look to get worse for them in North London come Saturday.We all know they’ve got a dodgy defense but what about up front?Where will the goals come from?The Gunners seem to be sorting out their own finishing problem (oddly, by asking their defenders to see to it) and I see a Reading-like romp for them here.

4-0

Reading vs. Charlton

Whatever the reason Charlton gave Dowie the sack, the result won’t be pretty for them on Saturday.I don’t see how any manager can be expected to take over a club that’s been run the same way for over a decade and get his own campaign underway within a few months, but who knows?Maybe Ian is a ranting looney.Regardless, Reading will be relishing this visit.

3-1

Chelsea vs. West Ham

The brain (or what’s left of it) tells me that it’ll be the usual 2-0 stroll for the Blues at the Bridge.My heart says that the Hammers can get a result.My heart wins today.

1-1

Sheffield United vs. Manchester United

The euphoria that has settled in around the Blade side of Sheffield after a win and a draw is set to be ushered out unceremoniously.The Reds are on a real high at the moment and I don’t see them faltering against minnows of the Sheffield United variety.Some of ManU’s men might have their eyes on the clash with Chelsea next week but Sir Alex will make sure they stick to the task at hand.

0-2

Everton vs. Bolton

After last week’s debacle at Reading, I think Big Sam will scare his lads into a win at GoodisonPark.Everton have to be shocked at the loss of Cahill and I think it’ll show. I'm still recovering from the video of Cahill's leg twisting -- I don't see how the Everton boys will perform.

1-2

Middlesboro vs. Liverpool

This is a tough one to call.Liverpool are so woeful on the road yet Boro remain the epitome of inconsistency.I’ll stick my neck out and proclaim that a draw will be the result.

2-2

Blackburn vs. Tottenham

Spurs continue to confound.My pal just reminded me that they have Danny Murphy.And Steed’s hanging about.And Edgar Davids.And suddenly forwards who can’t score.Except from the spot, that is.I feel Blackburn were a tad unlucky at Old Trafford last week and at EwoodPark I like their chances.I cannot go with Tottenham until they give me a reason.

2-1

Wigan vs. Aston Villa

Martin O’Neill will take The Villians to the JJB and get a point.That’s all there is to it.

If a report in the Daily Telegraph is to be believed, Iain Dowie lost his job at The Valley after 12 games not because of Charlton Athletic's plight at the foot of the Premier League table, but because his ranting and raving was causing such concern at the club...

Fourteen years after leaving their club, Perry Groves remains a cult hero to Arsenal fans, who still offer up songs of praise to him at every home game. Small Talk decided to get to the (massive) bottom of things ...

The Republic of Ireland waved goodbye to the old Lansdowne Road in the only way imaginable last night by beating San Marino, but this undemanding victory will hardly be added to the stadium's great football moments shown on a big screen at half-time.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Neither the Russian linesman who helped England on the way to their only World Cup win, nor the Wichita one (who's still on the line) can compare to Rafa 'no me jodas' Guerrero, possibly the most celebrated of all 'assistants', as they are now more neutrally known.

And the beauty of it is that Rafael Guerrero, native of Leon in Spain, insists on sporting a dodgy perm-like haircut that harks back to Terry McDermott and which makes him look as though he'd set out that very morning to ensure that the cameras would display his nest in all its glory. Confused? Well, it all started back in 1996.

One of the unwritten laws of football journalism states that a team that loses two matches in a row, or 90% of its matches over a short period of time, is in a 'crisis'.

As a general rule sportswriters love a club in 'crisis'. Why? Because, unfortunate and mawkish though it may be, the worse a situation gets the more interesting it becomes as one is presented with intrigue, scandal, controversy and the occasional chance to stick some metaphorical pins on a foe.

Alan Curbishley's departure from Charlton was always going to leave a huge void in the club's organisation and structure. Spending 15 years under the stewardship of the same regime brings about familiarities which are difficult to cast aside.

Whoever stepped into Curbishley's shoes over the summer faced the daunting task of transforming a club from the old to the new. The transition was never likely to be short-term but in the modern game, where money dictates policy far more than professional intelligence, the longer term is often neglected.

England departed the old Wembley with a depressing defeat to Germany but it is unthinkable the Republic of Ireland will mark their final appearance at Lansdowne Road before the stadium's revamp with anything other than a win. This evening's visitors are San Marino, and they have conceded 20 goals in the course of their two most recent qualifiers.

Monday, November 13, 2006

Not too bad this week. I got seven correct and three incorrect with one perfect score.

As predicted, Manchester City and Newcastle ended up in a scoreless draw while Sheffield United nicked the expected point off of Bolton. Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal all won, as did Wigan and Boro.

I was dead wrong on Spurs at Reading – I thought Tottenham would have a bit more steel than they showed. Meanwhile, perhaps Reading isn’t in the freefall I assumed. And Chris Coleman rallied his troops to pick up a point in Portsmouth – no easy task.

All in all, if there was a shock result of the weekend it was probably Spurs losing at Reading but I’d also have to toss in the ineptitude that Liverpool showed at the Emirates Stadium. Liverpool still has the Champions League to enjoy but on this form I don’t see that enjoyment leading to a replay of 2005. It could be a disastrous year for the Reds. -Sanford